Plumbing Maintenance Tips

September 23, 2016

Plumbing maintenance can save you from a fall filled with high costs on utility bills, malfunctioning plumbing fixtures, and an overall lack of convenience in your home. If you don’t consider preventative maintenance, you may experience stressors like frequent drain clogs and pipe leaks. Worse, you may not have enough hot water from your water heater in order to do the most basic, everyday activities. We see homeowners time after time neglect their plumbing needs during the fall. However, if you want to avoid falling into a similar trap, you need to take action and ensure needs are met right before the season begins.

Top-Notch Plumbing Maintenance Service

Anthony’s Plumbing can provide you with excellent maintenance services that will ensure not a single clog or leak goes undetected. We have a plumbing contractor who can offer dedicated customer service that will make your needs a top priority. Even if your plumbing system seems issue-free at the moment, it certainly helps to call for an inspection anyway, as there may be lingering issues that will blossom into something much worse down the line. We will even provide insight into the inner workings of your plumbing fixtures to let you know what it takes to ensure toilets, sinks, and showers are working at their best.

The Top 8 Tips for Plumbing Maintenance

Even if you are not a licensed plumber, you can still give a home plumbing inspection on your own time. You may not have the tools or years of experience required to do something like, say, full-on fixture repair. But there are still a few simple things you can do around the house that will ensure your plumbing system won’t be a major source of headaches this season:

Checking for Water Heater Leaks: It all begins with water heater service, especially if you want hot water for things like showering and dishwashing. Your first order of business is to inspect your water heater for leaks, especially if you are noticing puddles or dampness in areas surrounding your water heater. Leaks can cost you gallons of water, and only force the water heater to consume more energy when trying to do its job. Experiencing a lack of hot water and higher energy costs would be a major setback, so make sure leak inspection is done before anything else.

Test the Water Heater’s Pressure Relief Valve: A quick test of your water heater’s pressure relief valve will ensure it is doing its job in managing water pressure. Turning it off and on several times will ensure it is working smoothly.

Check the Water Heater’s Valve Connections:Problems with the water heater’s valve connections can put your safety at risk. This includes shortage in the electrical unit or a leak in the gas valve, which can create a fire risk and put the safety of your entire household in danger. Not checking connections can also damage system efficiency.

Check Fixtures for Leaks and Damage: Of course, your water heater is not the only fixture deserving of your attention. Toilets, sinks, tubs, and more need to be checked for any leaks and damages. Allowing a leak to go undetected will result in poor system efficiency and higher water bills. Also, an older plumbing fixture will inevitably show signs of wear and tear, and you need to make sure the damage itself is not disrupting its performance.

Check for Faucet Leaks: If your jaw hit the floor once you looked at the inexplicably high cost of your latest water bill, this may be because you did not pay enough attention to that dripping faucet. Many homeowners will neglect it, thinking it is not an immediate cause for concern. However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that a faucet with one drip per second may produce more than 3,000 gallons of water in a year’s time.

Looking Out for Slow Drainage: You need professional drain cleaning immediately if you notice your plumbing fixtures draining slower than ever. It is always important in these situations to keep plungers handy, as the slow drainage may be the result of a minor clog that can easily be removed. However, calling a professional plumber will be the best solution, as they can likely provide a wide range of plumbing solutions.

Insulate Pipes: A lack of insulation can lead to frozen or burst pipes later in the season, which can create a huge mess in your home, requiring emergency plumbing services. Frozen or burst pipes occur when pipes constantly expand and contract due to the freezing and thawing that the cooler months bring. This recurring movement weakens the integrity of the pipes. The best move here would be to install foam pipe insulation so they have greater protection.If you already have insulation in this area, add another layer.

Installing and Checking Water Filtration Systems: Installing a water filtration system will help eliminate and lower the risk of anyone in your household from experiencing serious, long-term illness, saving you the stress. It can successful remove chemicals and bacteria that will make water hazardous to drink or use for other everyday purposes. However, if you already own one, it is important to check it to ensure it is ready to provide clean water for the fall.

Don’t Get Caught In A Slippery Situation, Have Your Plumbing Maintenance Done Today

Contact Anthony’s Plumbing today for high-quality service that will keep your fixtures in check, thanks to our comprehensive plumbing maintenance!